If you’re using a project management tool or dashboard at work, there’s a good chance you're not using all of its best features—especially the reporting ones. Reports can offer more than just updates for meetings. They can actually help you make better decisions, save time, and spot problems early on. If you’re using proworkflow14 or any other reporting software, here are five features you might be missing out on—but really shouldn’t!
1. Scheduled Reports
You probably check your reports when you remember or when your boss asks. But did you know you can schedule reports to come to your inbox at the same time every day or week? This means no more logging in and clicking through menus. You just open your email and boom—everything you need is right there.
2. Custom Filters
Reports often show too much data, and digging through it is no fun. But most tools let you set custom filters. For example, you can look at just one team’s work, or projects from the last month. This helps you focus only on what matters, instead of getting lost in the numbers.
3. Time Tracking Summaries
If your team logs hours, don’t just look at the totals. Use summary reports to spot trends. Is one project eating up more time than you thought? Is someone putting in more hours than everyone else? These summaries can point out issues before they become big problems.
4. Visual Charts and Graphs
Raw numbers are hard to understand quickly. Bar graphs, pie charts, and timelines can show you progress at a glance. Most tools offer these, but many people ignore them. Try replacing your long spreadsheets with a clear graph—you’ll see the difference right away.
5. Report Sharing Settings
Instead of downloading and emailing the same report to your team every week, check if your software lets you share reports directly. Most tools give you a link you can give to others, or let you set permissions so teammates can view the reports themselves. This saves time and keeps everyone in the loop.
So, if you’ve been treating reports like just another task on your to-do list, give these features a try. They're already there—you just have to use them in a smarter way. A few small changes could help you and your team work better and stress less.